We’re all connected by highways, interstates and the cost of doing business in Illinois. But, each community in the center part of the state has its own distinct personality: Decatur has strength in the agribusiness, research and transportation industries; Springfield in state government and service agencies; Champaign in higher education and technology; and Bloomington in […]

Collaborating with world-renowned urbanist Richard Florida, Livability ranked more than 2,000 cities with populations between 20,000 and 350,000 to come up with their 2017 Best Places to Live. Cities are evaluated based on more than 40 data points including home values, taxes and cost of living, as well as quality of life criteria like air […]

Boulder, Colorado Located 25 miles north of Denver, Boulder is surrounded by mountains to the west and thousands of acres of protected open space to the east. A choice destination for outdoor enthusiasts and home to the main campus of the University of Colorado, Boulder is also a magnet for small business start-ups, ranking in […]

Chicago, Illinois Decatur residents who enjoy a low cost of living, short commute times and a convenient, central location think Chicago is a great place to visit, but they don’t want to live there. A short getaway to the “Windy City” is appealing, since getting there from here is easy – just a three-hour drive […]

Every year, Money Magazine publishes its “Best Places To Live” rankings in categories ranging from small towns and young people to work environments and retirement. Cities are evaluated by analyzing 60 key factors including home values, taxes and cost of living, as well as quality of life criteria like air quality and commutes, and earn […]